Mahinda Rajapaksa assumes charge as new Sri Lankan Prime Minister

Colombo, Oct. 29: Former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa Monday assumed charge as Sri Lanka’s new Prime Minister after the surprise sacking of his predecessor Ranil Wickremesinghe by President Maithripala Sirisena which plunged the island nation into an unprecedented political crisis.

Mr Rajapaksa assumed the duties in the PM’s secretariat which was not used by the ousted PM Wickremesinghe, officials from his Sri Lanka People's Party ( SLPP) said.

Mr Sirisena on Friday night sacked Mr Wickremesinghe and appointed Rajapaksa as the new PM in a surprise move that is being debated as a constitutional coup.

Mr Sirisena also suspended Parliament till November 16 after Mr Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority.

On Sunday, Sri Lankan Parliament’s Speaker Karu Jayasuriya recognised Mr Wickremesinghe as the PM.

At least a few Cabinet members will to be sworn in later, the party officials said.

“There will be ministers

of finance, law and order, foreign and home affairs who would be sworn in,” said a spokesman of the SLPP.

Mr Wickremesinghe continues to remain in his Temple Trees office cum residence of the prime minister.

President Sirisena has summoned the Colombo-based diplomats for a briefing at 5 pm Monday.

He is facing international pressure over his controversial decision to suspend parliament. UN chief Antonio Guterres and and the US State Department